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Fox hires Williams, right blasts NPR

Mike Huckabee (left) and Sarah Palin have taken to the airwaves to defend Juan Williams. | AP Photos
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She also said that Williams’ views on Muslims should remain between him and “his psychiatrist or his publicist,” a comment for which she later apologized.

The controversy over Williams’ firing is only the latest in a series of political battles over Islam’s role in American public life this year that began with the fight over the proposed Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.

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In that controversy, as in this one, Palin was one of the strongest voices supporting the side having the negative reaction to Muslims as a result of the actions of the 9/11 terrorists, and she was largely backed up by Republicans. The mosque debate, in turn, was politically damaging to President Obama.

Now Williams’ firing is becoming a cause célèbre for conservatives.

On his program Thursday night, O’Reilly said that “Jim DeMint will introduce legislation to defund” NPR in the wake of Williams’s firing – which a source later confirmed to POLITICO.

“This is like the ACORN deal – no more money to NPR,” O’Reilly said. “NPR has now devolved into a totalitarian outfit functioning as an arm of the far left.”

Earlier in the day, Huckabee, like Palin a possible presidential candidate in 2012, also urged Congress to cut NPR’s funding and announced he would no longer accept interviews on NPR.

“NPR has discredited itself as a forum for free speech and a protection of the First Amendment rights of all and has solidified itself as a purveyor of politically correct pabulum and protector of views that lean left,” he said in a statement.

Palin took to her Facebook page to echo his statements: “If NPR is unable to tolerate an honest debate about an issue as important as Islamic terrorism, then it’s time for ‘National Public Radio’ to become ‘National Private Radio.’ It’s time for Congress to defund this organization.” (See: Hurricane Sarah)

But Anna Christopher, a spokeswoman for NPR, said these calls for cutting off funding to NPR were “unfortunate” and reflect a fundamental misunderstanding about NPR’s financial structure.

“We don’t report to any congressional committee,” she said. “NPR is an independent news organization that receives no direct federal money, and less than 1 percent of our budget comes from grants that we competitively seek from government-funded organizations like the CPB [Corporation for Public Broadcasting] and the NEA [National Endowment for the Arts].”

NPR gets no direct funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but does receive federal grant and contract money, as well as funding from foundations that are federal grantees. NPR officials say this federal money constitutes a low single-digit percentage of its annual budget, about 2 percent depending on the year.

NPR’s total budget in 2007 was $170 million, according to its filing with the IRS.

Local NPR affiliates do receive about $90 million in annual appropriations from the CPB, which amount to around 10 percent of their revenue.

In reality, NPR was annoyed at Williams because he appeared on Fox. NPR, despite its claims to the contrary, is a left-leaning organization that actively opposes Fox News, and it previously tried to muzzle him (and Mara Liasson) for appearing on the network.

Let's face it. If Juan Williams had told Bill O'Reilly he gets nervous as an African American man walking in a working class white neighborhood, NPR would have had no problem defending his remarks if others called him bigoted as a result. NPR believes in free speech, but only if they agree with it.

America...I don't always...well okay...almost never...agree with Juan Williams...but in his defense of what he was saying and trying to convey...I agree!

He said exactly what Merkel just said in Germany.. If you do not assimilate into the culture of the country you are living in....you would be best to move back to the country that you are more comfortable in...because we are not comfortable with this outward allegiance displayed through your garb!

In the day and age when 'radical' Islam is at war with America, Israel and all things infidel....and you see individuals that so, obviously, stand with their culture over their allegiance to the country they are in...that is troubling!

That is all he said...and nothing more! But it was probably the best thing that has ever happened to Juan. I wish him and his family well! --------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPEACHMENT OR THE 'ORIGINAL' KENYAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE...IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME...AND THE VOTER REVOLUTION OF 2010 'IS' THAT TIME...GUARANTEED!

Yes we listen...this is how one gets a well rounded opinion. By listening closely to what someone says...and then watch what they do. This is why the Tea Party as a whole came to exist...they listened and watched the hypocrisy on parade from the left on display 24/7. This is just the latest example and one that should chill anyone who actually BELIEVES in free speech.

The new CONgress MUST STOP ALL federal government subsidies to NPR and PBS. Why should we taxpayers have to foot the bill for these lamestream socialists to spew forth their lies, leftist propaganda and insulting double standards?